Chinese Vice Premier Ma Kai visits Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd

The visit forms part of the Chinese Vice Premier’s UK tour, where he is exploring closer strategic and economic partnerships in the UK.

Vice Premier Ma Kai and his Ministers Xiao Yaging and Baikeli Nuer were given a personal tour by Sir Martin, with a visit into SSTL’s Assembly, Integration and Test Hall to view some of the 16 spacecraft currently under contract, including an SSTL-300S1 spacecraft identical to the 3 satellites launched in 2015, now operating as a commercial imaging constellation for Beijing-based company, 21AT.

Sir Martin Sweeting commented “I am extremely honoured to welcome the Vice Premier and his delegation to SSTL today. We are proud of our successful links with Chinese institutions and academia over the years, which have culminated in space missions including the DMC3/TripleSat Constellation which launched last year and is now delivering world-class commercial imagery.”

The tour concluded with a visit to the Spacecraft Operations Centre, SSTL’s control hub designed to securely communicate with orbiting satellites via a number of ground stations located around the world, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Vice Premier Ma Kai started his day with a visit to the University of Surrey’s world-leading 5G Centre and he was accompanied on his visit to SSTL by Professor Max Lu, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Surrey.